Such an obvious action obviously couldn't be concealed from the students of Class A. Within re monts, Katsuragi Kohei quickly led people forward to et them.
"So, what do you think? Should we go over there and get involved?"
Hashimoto Masayoshi loosened up his body a bit, eager to give it a try. Kito Hayato silently stepped forward.
"You guys go. I'll pass." Fuyuji Mikage pushed up the glasses he wasn't wearing. "I'm the 'Weirdo of Class A,' after all. A serious occasion like this clearly doesn't fit my character profile at a glance."
Morishita Ai pouted. Clearly, that title should have been hers instead.
Fuyuji Mikage took out his phone, connected a call to Hashimoto Masayoshi, and had him place the phone into the breast pocket of his uniform jacket.
"Besides, I'm satisfied with my life right now. I don't want to be watched by a huge crowd of people everywhere I go."
Once the S System was announced, the core figures of each class were bound to beco conspicuous. That much could be seen just from that blond senpai and that silver senpai. Never mind how greasy that blond senpai looked—he had a whole slew of female students in the second year wrapped around his finger.
This wasn't what Fuyuji Mikage wanted. Not only were there no benefits, but his ability to use his powers would also be severely restricted.
"The masterminds behind the scenes in movies are all this type. And then they always drop the ball at the critical mont, ultimately losing to the protagonist in a spectacular fashion."
Morishita Ai chose this mont to tear down his platform, continuing to fire rubber bands in revenge for that sudden collision when Fuyuji Mikage had stopped earlier.
"..." Fuyuji Mikage cast a dark, gloomy look her way. Lady, you and I are on the sa side here...
"Is there a problem? If there is, please provide a reason within one second." Morishita Ai pretended not to receive Fuyuji Mikage's silent hint and continued her assault on him.
"This is fine too. We don't have to expose our true combat power right from the start, and we can also use Katsuragi to confuse our opponents. Kito, let's go..."
Hashimoto Masayoshi expressed his agreent with this plan and strode over to where the others were talking.
Fuyuji Mikage also took the opportunity to leave the classroom through a different door. Just during that short while earlier, several covert glances had already been cast in Fuyuji Mikage's direction.
When he had been clustered together with Hashimoto and Kito just now, it could be explained away as them drawing the attention. But if only he himself remained...
Fuyuji Mikage couldn't guarantee whether soone with Ichinose Honami's powers of observation might see sothing from it.
Finding a secluded corner in a stairwell, Fuyuji Mikage took out his earphones, intending to eavesdrop on the conversation of the others.
"Give one."
A small, pale hand opened in front of Fuyuji Mikage.
"I thought you weren't interested in class competition?" Fuyuji Mikage placed the other earbud into Morishita Ai's palm.
"I'm interested in solving mysteries." Morishita Ai issued her declaration in a flat tone.
"..." That really is a statent perfectly in line with her style.
Finding a comfortable position to lean against the wall, Fuyuji Mikage put on the earbuds.
Morishita Ai silently eyed the white corded earphones suspended in midair. Her height just about reached Fuyuji Mikage's chin. If she put on the earbuds and they were connected like this...
It gave off a vague sense of déjà vu, like those discount bundle deals at the supermarket where you buy one large item and get a small one thrown in for free.
"Fuyuji Mikage!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Morishita Ai grabbed Fuyuji Mikage's clothes and pulled him over to the staircase, pointing at the steps. "You sit there!"
"Hah?" Fuyuji Mikage was a bit dumbfounded.
"Sit down." Morishita Ai stood on tiptoe, pressed down on Fuyuji Mikage's shoulder, and forced him down.
"Fine, fine, fine. I'll sit." Fuyuji Mikage didn't want to tangle with Morishita Ai and instantly surrendered.
Looking down at Fuyuji Mikage seated on the edge of the stair step, Morishita Ai nodded in satisfaction, then sat down herself and put on her earbud.
"The situation in Class A is as you can see. Is there anything here worth your attention?" Katsuragi Kohei's steady voice rang out.
Fuyuji Mikage nodded in satisfaction. As expected, Katsuragi was reliable. If he had put up a rejection or any kind of unfriendly attitude right from the start, it would have only aroused their suspicion.
"Not at all. I was just curious about what the in-class atmosphere of the other first-year classes is like, and to make so friends along the way." That energetic voice—there was no need to think to know these were the words of Ichinose Honami.
"Ichinose, is there anyone who knows more friends than you do? Please, do us a favor and spare the boys in our class. I really don't want to see them all circling around you all day, just like the guy beside you." Hashimoto Masayoshi's rather exasperated voice ca through; he was attempting to change the topic.
"You can't say that. One can never have too many friends."
"Since you're willing, we have no reason to stop you. The prerequisite is that you do not disturb the students of Class A."
Katsuragi Kohei very decisively relaxed his restrictions and allowed Ichinose Honami to look around. So ti ago, he had already notified the students in his class. As long as there was no deliberate leaking of information, with him watching from the side, it would be very difficult for Ichinose Honami to glean any useful intel.
"Then thank you in advance, Katsuragi-kun... That's strange. Where's Fuyuji-kun? I thought I saw him here just a mont ago."
"He... went to the restroom." Kito Hayato spoke in an even deeper voice than usual. Upon hearing his voice, a normal person would have no desire to continue a conversation with him.
"What a pity. I still wanted to say hello to Fuyuji-kun. I feel like Fuyuji-kun and I actually get along pretty well in conversation." Ichinose's voice carried a touch of regret.
"Ah, that won't be necessary," Hashimoto Masayoshi teased. "He was having a grand old ti playing around with the girl who sits behind him just now. Even if you went, he probably wouldn't have ti for you either."
Hashimoto, you bastard, are you calling out right now? Fuyuji Mikage felt his teeth itch a little.
Next, the sounds of footsteps ca through the earphones one after another, along with so routine back-and-forth greetings. They exchanged pleasantries for a while longer. Since the break period wasn't long to begin with, after a few simple exchanges, Ichinose Honami expressed her thanks and left.
"So, what do you think?"
Fuyuji Mikage took off his earbuds and turned his head to ask Morishita Ai.
"...You were flirting with a girl from the class next door too?"
Fuyuji Mikage nearly pitched headfirst down the staircase. "That's not what I was asking. And besides, that's not called flirting. We just happened to know each other, added each other as friends, and exchanged a few words."
Morishita Ai withdrew her scrutinizing gaze and returned the earbud to Fuyuji Mikage. "That guy standing beside Ichinose Honami didn't say a single word the entire ti."
"You think Ichinose was just the decoy, and he was the one actually doing the observing? If I recall correctly, his na is Kanzaki Ryuji."
"Mm." Morishita Ai wrapped a rubber band around her fingers and shot it directly at Fuyuji Mikage. "Your answer?"
Fuyuji Mikage caught the rubber band with one hand and sighed. "I'm afraid we lost right from the very start."
"Before coming to our class, they likely visited Class D and Class C as well. Class D is a scattered ss—if they saw them, they'd probably swarm over in a crowd. Class C is fighting for leadership; they're either spewing trash talk or brawling, no ti to deal with them. Compared to Class D and Class C, our class appeared far too normal."
"It won't be long before they probably realize that the four classes were divided based on student quality, and to then take the next step and imagine that competition exists between the four classes wouldn't be impossible."
It could only be said—was this as expected of Class B, the class right behind Class A? Or should one say that Ichinose Honami's social skills were simply far too above standard?
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